Device for inserting and removing lighting tubes



Sept. 23, 1947. J. D. DIVER 2,427,842

DEVICE FOR INSERTING AND REMOVING LIGHTING TUBES Filed March 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

P 1947- J. D. DIVER 2,427,842

DEVICE FOR INSERTING AND REMOVING LIGHTING TUBES Filed March 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 23, 1947 DEVICE FOR INSERTING AND REMOVING LIGHTING TUBES V j James D. Diver, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 26, 1945, Serial No. 584,817

6 Claims. (01. 29420) The invention relates to devices for inserting and removing lighting tubes and refers more particularly to portable devices for inserting and removing fluorescent lighting tubes into and from lighting fixtures.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide an improved device comprising gripping jaws which are movable angularly as a unit and also relatively movable away from each other and mechanism comprising a member movable in one direction to angularly move the jaws as a unit and also relatively move the jaws away from each other.

The invention has for another of its objects to provide an improved device comprising a carrier and gripping jaws pivotally mounted upon the carrier and angularly movable as a unit and also relatively movable an'gularly toward and away from each other about the pivot and mechanism for angularly moving and also relatively moving the jaws.

The invention has for other objects to provide an improved device which is of relatively light weight and is so constructed that it may be readily operated to insert and remove lighting tubes without breaking the latter; and to provide an improved device which may be economically constructed.

With these as well as other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation of Figure 1 on a reduced scale;

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view similar to a portion of Figure 3 showing a, modified construction of device;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing another modified construction of device;

Figure 7 is a rear elevation of a portion of Figure 6 with the jaws raised.

The device embodying the invention is designed particularly for use in inserting and removing fluorescent lighting tubes into and from lighting fixtures, the construction of tubes and fixtures being such that the tubes must be moved bodily transverse to their axes to engage the fixture sockets at the ends of the tubes and the tubes must also be rotated or angularly moved substantially about their axes to engage the electrical contacts. In general, the device comprises the carrier l the cooperating gripping jaws 2 and 3 upon the carrier and suitable mechanism for angularly moving the gripping jaws as a unit relative to the carrier and also relatively moving the gripping jaws angularly toward and away from each other.

The carrier l is preferably a sheet metal tubular member having the circular opening 4 at its lower end, the diametrically opposite longitudinally extending elongated openings 5 intermediate its ends and the diametrically opposite ears 6 at its upper end, the openings 5 extending transverse to the opening 4 and ears 6. I is a rod detachably engageable with the carrier I, the rod having its upper end portion insertable into the lower end portion of the carrier and adapted to be detachably secured to the carrier by suitable means not shown.

The jaws 2 and 3 are arcuate and preferably have the same radius of curvature, the jaw '2 being substantially semi-cylindrical and the jaw 3 being of less arcuate extent. Each jaw has a body 8 which is preferably formed of sheet metal and a lining 9 which is preferably formed of rubber to efiectively grip a fluorescent lighting tube. The jaws 2 and 3 are pivotally connected by means of the hinge members 10 and II secured to the bodies of the jaws at opposite sides of the carrier l and the pin l2 extending through ears on the hinge members and also the ears 6 on the carrier I. I3 are torsion springs encircling the portions of the pin I2 between the ears of the hinge members ID and II and having the ends I4 and I5 abutting the hinge members Ill and II, respectively. The springs I3 are symmetrically arranged with respect to the longitudinal center of the pin [2 so that each exerts the same force upon the jaws 2 and 3. These springs resiliently urge the jaws 2 and 3 toward each other about the pin l2 and exert sufficient pressure upon the jaws so that they will effectively clamp the fluorescent lighting tube.

The mechanism for angularly moving the jaws 2 and 3 as a unit relative to the carrier 1 and about the pin 12 and for also relatively moving the laws 2 and 3 toward and away from each other comprises the lever l6 upon the carrier I, the coil spring I! and the hand grip I8. The lever l6 extends between the side walls of the channelshaped support I9 and is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the support by the pivot member 20 whichextends transversely through the upper portions of the side walls. The support extends through the openings 5 and is secured to the carrier by the members 2| and 22. The lever I6 is operatively connected to the jaw 2 by the bracket 23 secured to the jaw, the link 24 pivotally connected to the bracket and the lever 25 pivotally connected at one end to the link 24 and at the other end to the support IS. The lever 25 is formed of spaced members between which the link 24 and also the lever 15 extend. These members are formed with the longitudinally extending elongated openings 26 which are slidably engaged by the pivot member 21 for pivotally connecting the levers I6 and 25 together. The coil spring I! preferably has its upper end connected to the pivot pin for connecting the link 24 to the lever 25 and its lower end connectedto the lower end portion of the carrier -by suitable means, such as the eye 28. The lever l6 at the side of the carrier l opposite the lever 25 is connected by the lineaer member 29, such as a chain, to the jaw 3. The end of the lever [6 at the same side of the carrier is connected by the linear member 38', such as a chain, to the hand grip I8, the linear member extending. through the eye 3| upon the rod 1.

The construction of the operatingmechanism is such that upon downward pulling of the hand grip l8 longitudinally of the rod- 7' the jaws 2 and 3 are first angularly moved as a unit relative to the carrier I about the pin- 12 by means of the linear member 30, the lever l6, the lever 25, the link 24 and the bracket 23, the angular movement being against the resistance offered by the spring ll. After the=jaws 2 and'3 have been moved from their normal position through an angle of approximately 90 degrees-the jaw 3 is then-angularly moved away from the jaw 2 about the'pin [2 to open position to release the fluorescent lighting tube, this being accomplished: by means of the lever l6 and the linearmember 2 9 The normal position of the jaws is determined by the bracket 23 contacting the carrier I and the angular movement of the jaws through anangle of approximately 90 deg-rees'is determinedthe'jaw 2 to eifectively grip the tube and thenboth jaws 2 and 3-under'theaction of the spring H- move angularlyas a unit relative to the car rier and when the jawsarei'n the pcsitions' as' shown in Figure 2 the tube isin position to be disengaged from the fixture socketsby merely It is also apparent that a tube may be readily inserted in a fixture by mounting the tube in the jaws 2 andlowering the device with the tube.

3'and allowing them toassume their-normal position before raising the device and the tube.

After the device has been raised to-insert the tube ends in the fixture sockets; tlie jaws 2- and 3 may be angularly moved' as a unit" relative tothe carrier and then the jaw 3 angularly moved away from the jaw- 2 to release the tube-by pull-- ing downwardly upon the hand grip; after which:

the device may be lowered.

The construction ofdevice'shown in Fi'gurefi differs essentially from that shownin Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, in the operating'mechani'sm. In detail, 32 is a link pivotally connected t'othe-substantially semi-cylindrical jaw 33"a nd 34 i s -a" rod pivotally connected to the link 32 and operable upon longitudinal movement to angularly move the jaw 33 and the cooperating jaw 35 as a unit in both directions through an angle of degrees. The rod 34 extends longitudinally of the carrier 36 and rod 3'! connected to the carrier and is preferably guided by suitable means, such as the eyes 33. The jaw 35 is adapted to be moved angularly away from the jaw 33 by means of the linear member 39 connected to the lever 40 and the linear member 4| extending longitudinally of the rod 3'! and guided by the eye 42. Both linear members 39 and 4| may be chains. The lever 40 is preferably pivotally mounted upon the carrier 36. The normal positionof the jaw 33 is determined by the ear 43 upon the carrier 36 engageable with the jaw 33 and the angular movement of the jaws 33 and 35 as a unit through an angle of 90 degrees is determined by the chain 44 connected to the jaw 33 and the carrier 36.

The construction of device shown in Figures 6 and 7 is, in general, the same as that of Figures 1 to l, inclusive, but differs essentially in providing a coil spring 45 between the substantially semi-cylindrical jaw 46 and the carrier 41 for resiliently urging the jaw 46 and the cooperating jaw 48 as a unit to their normal positions, as shown in full lines in Figure 6, the coil spring 45 exerting a force less than the force exerted by the coil springs 49 for resiliently urging the jaws angularly toward each other. The construction also diiTers in securing to the carrier 4! the guidernember 50 for the linear member 5|. The

guide member, as shown, is a pulley mounted on the strap support 52 extending between and fixedly secured to the diametrically opposite cars 53 at the upper end of the carrier. The linear member is connected to the jaw 48- and extends longitudinally of the carrier 41 and the rod 54 for supporting the carrier. such that by pulling downwardly upon the linear member 5| the jaws 46 and 48 are angularly moved as a'unit relative to the carrier 41 through an angle. of 90 degrees, after which the jaw 48 isangula'rly moved relative to the jaw 46 to an open position. It will be noted that the arrange each other, spring means for relatively movingsaid jaws angularly toward each other, alever pivotally mounted upon said carrier, mean'scomprising a link between one of said jaws and said lever operable upon angular movement of said lever to angularly move said jaws in one directionas a unit, a linear member connected to the'other of said jawsand said leveroperable upon angular movement of said lever to angularly move said last mentioned jaw away from said first mentioned jaw, a manually operable member for angularly moving said lever in one direction, and spring. means-for angularly'moving said lever in andangularly movable as'a unit through'an angle The arrangement isinserting and removing of approximately 90 relative to said carrier about the pivot and also relatively movable angularly toward and away from each other about the pivot, spring means for normally urging said jaws angularly toward each other, second spring means for resiliently holding said jaws as a unit in a predetermined position, said second spring means being of less strength than said first mentioned spring means, and a member connected to one of said jaws and movable in one direction only to angularly move said jaws as a unit from said predetermined position to another predetermined position and relatively move said jaws away from each other, said second spring means being connected to said member.

3. A device for inserting and removing fluorescent lighting tubes comprising a carrier, gripping jaws mounted upon said carrier and movable as a unit through an angle of approximately 90 relative to said carrier and also relatively movable toward and away from each other, spring means for normally urging said jaws toward each other, a member movable in one direction and connected to one of said jaws to move said jaws as a unit and relatively move said jaws away from each other, and second spring means connected to said member for resiliently returning said jaws upon release of said member.

4. A device for inserting and removing fluorescent lighting tubes comprisin a carrier, gripping jaws mounted upon said carrier and movable in opposite directions as a unit relative to said carrier and also relatively movable toward and away from each other, spring means for relatively moving said jaws toward each other, a lever extending transversely of and movably mounted upon said carrier, means between one of said jaws and said lever operable upon movement of said lever in one direction to move said jaws in one direction as a unit, means connected to the other of said jaws and said lever operable upon movement of said lever in said direction to move said last mentioned jaw away from said first mentioned jaw, and spring means for moving said jaws as a unit and said lever in the opposite direction.

5. A device for inserting and removing fluorescent lighting tubes comprising a carrier, gripping jaws movably mounted upon said carrier and angularly movable in opposite directions as a unit relative to said carrier and also relatively movable angularly toward and away from each other, spring means for relatively moving said jaws angularly toward each other, a lever extending through and movably mounted upon said carrier, means between one of said jaws and said lever operable upon angular movement of said lever to angularly move said jaws in one direction as a unit, a linear member connected to the other of said jaws and said lever operable upon angular movement of said lever in said direction to angularly move said last mentioned jaw away from said first mentioned jaw, and spring means for angularly moving said jaws as a unit and said lever in the opposite direction.

6. A device for inserting and removing fluoresent lighting tubes comprising a carrier, gripping jaws pivotally mounted upon said carrier and angularly movable as a unit through an angle of approximately relative to said carrier about the pivot and also relatively movable angularly toward and away from each other about the pivot, mechanism for angularly moving said jaws as a unit in one direction and subsequently relatively moving said jaws away from each other, said mechanism comprising a member operatively connected to one of said jaws only and movable in one direction only to efi'ect both of said movements, spring means for urging said jaws angularly toward each other, and second sprin means operatively connected to said member for angularly moving said jaws as a unit in the opposite direction.

JAMES D. DIVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,191,593 Sosnik Feb. 27, 1940 2,360,396 Carney Oct. 17, 1944 2,367,003 Carson Jan. 9, 1945 2,393,880 Beard Jan. 29, 1946 

